Study on Shear Capacity of Horizontal Joints in Prefabricated Shear Walls

This study investigates the shear behavior of horizontal joints in prefabricated monolithic short-limb shear walls under static and low-cycle reversed cyclic loading, supported by finite-element simulations. Four specimens were tested to evaluate the influence of the bundled shear reinforcement ratio, initial reinforcement stress level, and loading protocol on shear capacity. The results show that increasing the bundled shear reinforcement ratio significantly enhanced both the yield and peak loads, with increases observed in the yield, peak, and failure loads. Conversely, a higher initial stress level in the reinforcement weakened the shear-friction mechanism, leading to a reduction in the load-carrying capacity. Compared to monotonic loading, low-cycle reversed cyclic loading accelerated crack propagation and cumulative damage, leading to a significant reduction in load-carrying and deformation capacities. Finite-element simulations, using the Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model, were in good agreement with experimental results, although the simulations slightly overestimated the ultimate capacity, confirming the model’s validity. Parametric analysis indicated that increasing axial tension progressively reduced the yield and peak loads, with the reduction in peak load being more pronounced, while the cracking load remained unchanged. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the shear design and seismic performance evaluation of horizontal joints in prefabricated shear walls, offering valuable insights for future design improvements and modeling strategies.